Channel 4 selects Leeds for new national headquarters

British broadcaster Channel 4 has today confirmed Leeds as the location of its new national headquarters, as well as two creative hubs to be set up in Bristol and Glasgow.

The move is expected to create 300 jobs inside the company and a further 3,000 production jobs as part of the new content it will create. The Leeds headquarters will operate alongside Channel 4's existing London HQ.

As a result, Channel 4's spending on UK-based production will rise from 35 per cent to 50 per cent of all main channel commissions within the next five years. Chief executive Alex Mahon said this will roughly equate to a new spend of up to £250m.

The broadcaster said the plans were part of its strategy to ensure Channel 4 better represents the entire UK, both on and off-screen.

"Diversity and inclusion have always been at the heart of Channel 4’s mission and the launch of our 4 All the UK plan is the biggest and most exciting change in the organisation’s 36-year history – as we open up Channel 4 to people from across the UK and supercharge the impact we have in all parts of the country," said Mahon.

The decision followed a series of pitch rounds from cities and regions across the UK, which saw over 30 submissions.

Reed Smith and Deloitte were advisers to the process.